Venture-backed pan-European reviews site Qype is having a face-lift tomorrow, along with a few other nips and tucks. New features include the ability to add videos via Youtube – something already available on competitor sites like TrustedPlaces – better local search, maps and community features, UpMyStreet-like local chat features for all the 6,000 towns on Qype.co.uk and a mobile version at m.qype.co.uk. You can also drag and zoom in on a map and watch how the list of places updates as you go. Qype launched in September 2007 and claims 2.2 million users per month across 6,000 cities in Europe.Qype is backed by UK investor Advent Venture Partners and the Paris-based Partech International. Its founder is Stephan Uhrenbacher. Competitors in the UK include Welovelocal and Tipped. (I’m not including TouchLocal in this line-up any more as I don’t think it’s improved despite its relaunch as a ‘social’ site). Here’s what Qype will look like tomorrow. Can you spot the differences?:
